5 New Twists on Veggies & Dip

Whenever I hear the word potluck, my mind instantly goes to the classic veggies & dip combo. There really isn't an easier dish and a more universally liked dish! Think about it...have you ever been to a casual potluck where you didn't find a well visited veggie tray?? While it is a tried and true classic, veggies & dip can get a little boring. So, today I bring you five fresh remixes that will take your classic from boring to bold!

All photos by Kate

Happy Leap Year!!!

Cooking for 1,600?! Wolfgang Puck has got it covered!

Can you imagine being responsible for making all the food for the Oscar's Governor's Ball?? That's enough food to feed over 1600 A-listers and Hollywood hotshots. I can't even begin to wrap my head around that number. Good thing Wolfgang Puck is on duty! In his 18th year as the head chef for the Governor's Ball, Puck is pulling out all the stops to make a show-stopping spread of delectable dishes. 50 different dishes to be exact! From mac & cheese to potatoes wrapped in gold...yes, gold, Puck's menu has a little something for everyone!

Photos via CBS News

Lucky for most of us, we will NOT be entertaining 1600 A-listers anytime soon, but we can still get a little taste of Hollywood with these recipes by Wolfgang Puck.




Chopped Salad




Crab Louie




Mini Prime Burgers




Chicken Pot Pie


Photos via WolfgangPuck.com

Entertaining Tip of the Week

This week I am taking you on a little journey to One Kings Lane for entertaining tips from the lovely Gwyneth Paltrow. Check out the slideshow here.

via One Kings Lane

Happy Weekending!

Turn Your Old Shirts into New Placemats!

Via TheNateShow.com

Nate Berkus, oh how I love thee! I discovered the Nate Berkus show when I started working from home and it didn't take long before I was head over heels in love! The show is full of great ideas for everything from decorating to entertaining. One recent episode featured Danny Seo who just wrote a book called "Upcycling: Create Beautiful Things with the Stuff you Already Have". This book is now on my wish list! Anywho...one of the ideas that he talked about on the show was how to turn your old shirts into great new placemats! Here's how it's done....

Oxford Shirt Placemats
Turn old oxfords and button down shirts into placemats. First iron them and then cut the back into squares and take to a copy shop and have them laminate, or make them into cloth napkins by cutting into uniform pieces, about 12 inches square. Leave edges frayed or sew a hem for a cleaner look.

From The Nate Show

Time to go shop my closet!

Pancake Toppings Bar with FREE Printables!

Image via Food Network

Tomorrow is Mardi Gras already! My how time flies! Gone are my days of all night Mardi Gras celebrations but I still plan on marking the day with another tradition...pancakes!! I for one LOVE any kind of breakfast food for dinner so why not throw a Pancake Party complete with a DIY toppings bar!
Grab a box of your favorite pancake mix and whip up a stack of pancakes as your guests arrive. Then let them load up their cakes with their own mix of favorite toppings from the toppings bar. Here are a few ideas for toppings:

• chocolate chips
• whipped cream
• apples
• strawberries
• pecans
• walnuts
• honey butter
• brown sugar

And the list goes on and on! Whatever floats your boat...sweet or savory! I made up some FREE printable labels for your toppings bar with even more suggestions. Download HERE.

And because I usually give up chocolate for lent, I will be making these lovelies:)

Via Manifest Vegan



Entertaining Tip of the Week

Happy Weekending All!!

What the heck is Raclette??

Photo by David Lebovitz

How is it possible that I have never heard of raclette??!! As a die hard cheese lover I cannot believe I had never come across this fabulous Swiss tradition. I hope that I am not the only one feeling very left out of the hot, melty, cheesy loop! So what is raclette? Well, technically it's a type of Swiss cheese but the amazing thing about this cheese is how it's served. It is put under a hot plate of sorts and melted until it achieves a purely delicious level of gooiness and begins to form a crust. Then...you might want to sit down for this...the hot melty cheese is scraped onto potatoes! Whaaaa?? How great does that sound?? Traditionally the cheese is also served alongside small pickles,  pearl onions, and even various sliced meats. Now, before you go running to the store to buy a Raclette grill, know that they are pretty expensive. I have heard that some places will rent them so check with local restaurant supply stores first. And if you don't have any luck, do what I plan on doing..use the broiler! Put the cheese in shallow ramekins and place just under the broiler till it's melty and crusty then scrape over your potatoes. You can buy the raclette cheese at most specialty food stores or substitute another one of your favorite melting cheeses like mozzarella or fontina. The easiest option..the raclette party tray at iGourmet.Comes with all the food you need all ready to go!

 Here are some of the raclette grills that I would consider pinching my pennies for...

Williams-Sonoma

Comfort House

iGourmet

Dress My Dishes: A little bit of Love!

In case you haven't heard...(which is impossible considering the stores have been all about this day since about midnight on Christmas) Tuesday is Valentine's Day! In honor of this little holiday, I decided to put together a little Dress My Dishes ensemble. Now, I am not a huge fan of red. Actually, I'm not a fan at all. So I have tried not to go red crazy with this collection but I had to throw some in there. It is the national color of Valentine's Day after all. My favorite thing..the cupids arrow cocktail pick!! Definitely swap out the fondue forks for the arrow, if it's long enough of course! You want the night to be hot but NOT because your fingers are on fire!

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7

Entertaining Announcement!

No tip this week....just an exciting announcement!!!

Kate Marie Paperie now has a shiny new website!

Head on over to KateMariePaperie.com to see what my little studio is all about. Plus, it's full of pictures of my work! Who doesn't like pictures?!

Happy Weekending!

Cow Barn to Entertaining Haven

This transformation from Southern Living is in a word..amazing! Can you imagine turning an old cow barn into a gorgeous space for entertaining? Well, that's just what designer Steven Gambrel has done. From the hot pink door to the 1940s French monastery table, you wouldn't even know that cows used to party where you are standing! He actually took his inspiration from the barns older heritage as an equestrian center. The little horsey details are carefully executed throughout the space and create a sophisticated but fun atmosphere. I know we are on our way to spring, but this barn has me dreaming of a cozy fall dinner around that gorgeous old table!

All photos via Southern Living

Wedding to Weeknight: Rancho Sante Fe Style

Weddings are huge productions that often take years to plan but that doesn't mean you can't use them as inspiration for more casual, last minute get togethers. There are a TON of awesome wedding blogs out there that are filled with page after page of gorgeous wedding photos. Style Me Pretty is one of my faves. I always find myself searching that website when I need a little eye candy to get the creative juices flowing. So, I've decided to start a new series on the blog called Wedding to Weeknight. It will be all about taking a beautiful wedding and using it to inspire the decor for a great weeknight dinner party.

This first wedding caught my eye with its great sort of casual elegance. From the neutral color scheme of greys and creams to the old crates and kettles filled with flowers, this wedding just simply made me want to be a part of it.

Photos by Bryan N Miller via Style Me Pretty

Here's how to get the look for your next weeknight get together.

burlap table runner / gold charger / pitcher / chalkboard menu / blue jar / flatware / bud vases

Entertaining Tip of the Week

This week's tip comes in the form of a link to a GREAT slideshow on RealSimple's website. Full of good advice....check it out here



via RealSimple.com

 Happy Weekending

Super "Healthy" Bowl Party

I always thought it was mean having the big game so early in the year when everyone has resolved to eat healthier. The one day when you consume SO much junk food all while sitting on the couch for the day. Granted, that kind of food is some of my absolute favorite but it isn't great for the ol' waistline. So this year I plan on making a few snacky appetizers that are a little bit healthier but no less yummy. Here are a few of the recipes I found on Cooking Light that I plan on adding to the line-up this year...

Tex-Mex Pinto Bean Spread

1 (15-ounce) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained

1/2 cup chopped onion 

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro 

2 teaspoons fresh lime juice $

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 jalapeño pepper, seeded

1/2 cup chopped plum tomato $

1 tablespoon pumpkinseeds, toasted

Preparation

1. Place first 6 ingredients in a food processor, and process until smooth. Place bean mixture in a bowl. Stir in chopped tomato, and sprinkle with pumpkinseeds.

Sliders with Shallot-Dijon Relish

• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper $
• 1 pound ground sirloin
• Cooking spray $
• 3 tablespoons finely chopped shallots
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce $
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard $
• 2 teaspoons butter, softened $
• 8 (1-ounce) Parker House rolls
• 16 dill pickle chips $

Preparation

1. Prepare grill to medium-high heat.
2. Combine 1/2 teaspoon salt, pepper, and sirloin. Divide meat mixture into 8 equal portions, shaping each into a 1/4-inch-thick patty. Lightly coat both sides of patties with cooking spray. Place patties on grill rack; grill for 3 minutes on each side or until done.
3. Combine shallots, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and butter in a small bowl, stirring well. Cut rolls in half horizontally. Spread shallot mixture evenly over cut sides of rolls. Layer 1 patty and 2 pickle chips on bottom half of each roll; top with top halves of rolls.

Spicy Maple Cashew Popcorn

• 1 tablespoon canola oil $
• 1/4 cup unpopped popcorn kernels (about 6 cups popped) $
• 1/4 cup dry-roasted cashews $
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon butter $
• 1/2 teaspoon salt $
• 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper

Preparation

1. Heat canola oil in a medium heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. While saucepan heats, line a jelly-roll pan with parchment paper; set prepared pan aside. Add popcorn to oil in saucepan; cover and cook 2 minutes or until kernels begin to pop, shaking pan frequently. Continue cooking 2 minutes, shaking pan constantly. When popping slows down, remove pan from heat. Let stand 1 minute or until all popping stops. Stir in cashews.
2. Combine sugar and remaining ingredients in a small saucepan; bring to a boil. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; cool 1 minute.
3. Pour hot syrup mixture over popcorn mixture; toss well to coat. Immediately spread popcorn mixture out onto prepared jelly-roll pan. Cool 3 minutes.

All photos and recipes via CookingLight.com

Dessert Hero!

Ok..I am NOT a baker. The whole measuring thing takes way too much time in my opinion. I much prefer to cook so I can just add a little of this and a little of that to make it my own. So I usually ask someone else to bring dessert or I buy something for dessert which is why I gasped when I saw this cake from Williams-Sonoma. I don't care WHO you are...if you brought this to the table after a fabulous dinner party, you would be my hero! I mean just look at this peanut butter cup goodness! The layers of rich chocolate and peanut butter just make me want to jump in and swim around in it. It is a little pricey if you ask me BUT totally worth it for a special occasion...valentine's day perhaps??